The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-11-18
A MARROW EsCArE,
a Panic in 4 Chicago Hotel-MIght hay
Been u Holocaust, ('a =.

a Panic in 4 Chicago Hotel-MIght have
Heon u Holooaust,
CHICAGO, Nov. l7.-0ver one hundred
guests, occupying six floors Of the Saratoga
European Hotel, in Dearborn street, were
aroused from their beds shortly before
two o'clock this morning by the ringing
Of the electric fire alarm in their yoomB. a
Smoke was pouring through the halls
and creeping in at tho transom. Cries of
"Elre,' we're hoard on every landing and
an indescribable panic snsued. 5''s n
Few stopped to secure their clothing or
valuables. Women and men fed through
the halls, down the stairway and oat into
the street clad in theis night clothes. The
clattering of the Ere engines aroused the
ocaupanta Of several hotels In the neigh.
borhood and the excitement became in
tenae. One man, Harry Hammond, s a
night clerk OF the hotel, descended from
the sixth story by tho FIRE escape, The
other inmatea tumbled owe. oash othe,
down the stairs In their hurry to escspo,
Shortly after the arrival Of the first cons
pany second alarm was sent In, a The
flames we're then hiVh above the roof of
the eevon.story structure and threatening
the Journal building to the South, and the
Windsor Hotel acroau the sllsy to tbe
north. Halt an hours hard work eub.
dued the fire sufficiently to allow two
truck companies to hoist their ladders and
make search Of .ae rooma. It was al
hrst believed that some OF the 9uests had
been caught in the fire, bat none we're
found. s'ss.-7S.54' u :,
Ahout quarter to three o'clock, aitel
several OF the engines had been dismissed
the fire broke out airesh on the ton aoor
and In short whilo the entire seventh
story was ablsze, with a strong wind ian
ming 1t in the direction Of the Jour,ao
building to tho south. The rear irom the
lower moor. clean to the root was also
ablsze, the shaft formerly used as an ele.
vator acting as a aue. The fire., however
was confined tolthese places, land but for the
strong wind could have been easily fought
The building was flooded with watos, snc
from this and smoke moss OF The damage
will accrue. It three o'clock the fire wal
entirely under control. q Z. (? 81, gg,
The Windsor Eotel, just across the
alley, was crowded with number OF e1.
cited mon and women in oil stages Of
dishabills. In their fright to get out Of the
burning Saratoga many OF them had pul
on but one shoe while others were bare
looted. An overcoat or cloak over the
night clothes was the scanty costume thai
enveloped most OF the guests. J {. ~
Those Of the guests who had not taken
refuge IN the Windsor Hotel, sought hall
ways in tho buildings surrounding ir
which to don their clothing. In the' en-.
trance OF the First Mathematician build.
ing etood four women scantily apparelled
and shivering with the cold. Many told
stories OF their narrow escapes.
The origin Of the fire. is unknown. = I
clearly started in the rear OF tho restaurant
The building is owned by the Chamber
estate, and is damaged to the extent Of
perhaps $l2, 900 or sl5, 900. The restaureni
ia Quilted and the fu,nituret almost entirely
destroyed, entailing loss Of at least IS, 900
The damage to tho hotel furniture il
about IS, 900. W